Interdealer broker Tullett Prebon in bid talks

Interdealer broker Tullett Prebon confirmed it was in preliminary talks that might lead to an offer after a UK newspaper reported Macquarie Group and Bank of China were interested, boosting its shares sharply.

'The board of Tullett Prebon notes recent press speculation regarding the company and confirms it is in preliminary discussions with a third party, which may or may not lead to an offer being made for the entire issued share capital,' the British broker said in a statement on Wednesday.

There is no certainty an offer will be forthcoming, it added.

Tullett: Preliminary discussions

Macquarie Group, Australia's top investment
bank, and Bank of China, the country's fourth-largest lender, 'are
apparently running the slide rule over Tulletts', and that the Chinese
wants to get involved in interdealer broking.